Situational Analysis | October 22, 2021

It's Friday, Friday and National Make a Dog’s Day. I'm not a dog lover, but if you are, here's your chance.

Also, a big congrats to Scott Anderson on his election as chair of the American Bankers Association!

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There is 'serious and widespread racial harassment' in Davis school district, says a report by the US Department of Justice, something that the district has intentionally ignored. Black students have been called slaves, the N-word, told their skin was dirty (or worse), had their hair touched or pulled and heard threats that they would be lynched. Asian students were called "yellow" or "squinty" and told to "go back to China." One student was ridiculed by a teacher for working on a taco truck (he doesn't). Davis School District has signed a settlement agreement with the DOJ that requires them to address the systemic issues of racism moving forward. Meanwhile Utah legislators are looking to "counter" critical race theory.

The human remains found in Florida were identified through dental records as Brian Laundrie's, along with a notebook that may yield clues in the strangulation death of Gabby Petito and his own.

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2022 legislative session and a heated Senate race

State legislators set the agenda for the general session while candidates line up for Utah’s contentious 2022 U.S. Senate race. Doug Wilks, editor of the Deseret News, Heidi Hatch, anchor with KUTV, and Frank Pignanelli, partner at Foxley & Pignanelli, join Jason Perry on "The Hinckley Report," Friday at 7:30 p.m.

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Zions Bank president and CEO elected to lead nation’s banking industry

The American Bankers Association elected A. Scott Anderson as its chair for the 2021-2022 association year. The election took place during ABA’s annual convention held in Tampa, Fla. Anderson is the president and CEO of Zions Bank headquartered in Salt Lake City. The bank’s 122 locations offer customers a range of financial products ranging from mortgage options to Private and Executive Banking services, in addition to online and mobile banking, across Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.

“Banks are tremendously important to their customers and communities, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent our industry as we navigate critical challenges in the year ahead,” said Anderson. “I look forward to working with my colleagues across the country to make sure banks of all sizes can continue to support the nation’s recovery from the pandemic and drive economic growth.” (Read More)

Utahns for Carbon Dividends send letter to Utah’s Congressional delegation

Utahns for Carbon Dividends coalition recently sent a letter to the entire Utah congressional delegation. The letter encourages Utah’s congressional leaders to lead and advance the market-based climate solution known as the Baker-Shultz Carbon Dividends Plan.

The Utahns for Carbon Dividends coalition is co-chaired by Zions Bank president and CEO Scott Anderson and Larry H. Miller Group of Companies board member Greg Miller. See a complete list of co-chairs and supporters here.

This bipartisan plan has earned support from major U.S. companies, top environmental organizations, thousands of economists, conservatives and younger voters. It would cut U.S. emissions in half while unlocking innovation, simplifying regulations and growing the economy. (Read More)

Rep. Owens continues push to protect Americans’ financial privacy

Today, Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) and over 200 colleagues sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Yellen reasserting concerns with the Administration’s proposal to expand the data collected on Americans’ bank accounts.

“The push to expand IRS data collection shows just how out-of-touch the White House and Congressional Democrats are with everyday Americans,” said Rep. Owens. “Utahns in the Fourth District are appalled by this textbook government overreach, and I’m proud to take their concerns straight to Treasury Secretary Yellen.” (Read More)

Owens co-signs letter to President Biden regarding supply chain crisis

Today, Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) and 160 Republican members of Congress sent a letter to President Biden, urging him to immediately reconsider radical partisan policies that are quickly eroding the U.S. supply chain. The letter was led by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (MO-06) and Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (AR-04).

In the letter, the members write: “The current supply chain crisis exposes how close to its limit our transportation system operates. We must address the global supply chain and ports crisis before Congress even considers additional social spending and taxation legislation. Our priority right now should be strengthening our Nation’s economy and increasing our global competitiveness.” (Read More)

Sen. Lee advocates UK trade deal

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) today asked that the Senate pass his resolution supporting a free trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom. This is a continuation of Lee’s now multi-year advocacy for a free trade deal between the countries. Such an agreement would be beneficial to both nations and to Utah specifically. The United Kingdom is Utah’s largest export market with more than $9 billion of exports leaving Utah for the UK in 2019. Almost 11,000 Utahns are employed by UK subsidiaries, and nearly 40,000 Utah jobs are supported by Utah’s export relationship with Britain.

Of the resolution, Sen. Lee said, “For more than a hundred years, throughout times of change, tumult, and uncertainty, our partnership with the United Kingdom – the ‘special relationship’ – has been constant. The U.K. has been our staunchest and most loyal ally. The American and British peoples have the opportunity to once again join forces and emerge from the challenges we face today stronger than ever – for the benefit of our countries, and nations across the globe.” (Read/Watch More)

Number of the Day

Election fraud claims a problem for both GOP and Dems

By LaVarr Webb

The Utah state legislators and others who are demanding a forensic audit of elections in a couple of Utah counties are coming across as a little kooky. They aren’t doing themselves any good and they are hurting their Republican Party and the conservative cause.

They are even hurting the chances of Donald Trump to win the presidency again. He won big in Utah in 2020, but attacking the integrity of Utah’s elections, as Trump is doing in states all over the country, won’t help him with mainstream Republicans and especially moderates and independents. The Utah legislators are drawing even more attention to Trump’s nonsensical assaults on 2020 voting results in states across the country.

I believe that the vast majority of mainstream Utahns are fully confident in their election systems. They especially like mail-in balloting. To the extent these silly audit demands are associated with the Republican Party, GOP candidates are put on the defensive. They have to spend time explaining they don’t support this nonsense. Chasing these apparitions is tantamount to committing political suicide.

Of course, the Democrats’ hands aren’t clean on this topic, either. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger recently wrote an article in Real Clear Politics about how Democratic darling Stacey Abrams has for many months spread “stolen election conspiracy theories.” Much like Donald Trump in 2020, Abrams has refused to concede her 2018 gubernatorial election loss (by 55,000 votes), and has alleged election irregularities. (Read More)

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